Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Newly appointed Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa assured on Wednesday, June 7, that he will prioritize the issuance of the “delayed” Covid-19 benefits and allowances for healthcare workers (HCWs).
Photo courtesy of Ted Herbosa
In a Twitter post, government-run station PTV4 quoted Herbosa saying that he will make sure that the Budget and Management (DBM) and the DOH will be able to issue the pending payment if there are any, and he promised that he will closely look into it.
“Kung may benefits sila na hindi pa naibibigay, na supposed to have been given, I’ll try to make sure that our Budget and Management and the Department of Health will be able to issue all of these things na hindi pa naibibigay (If they have benefits that have not yet been given, that are supposed to have been given, I’ll try to make sure that our Budget and Management and the Department of Health will be able to issue all of these things that have not yet been given),” he said.
“I’ll look into that, make sure lahat ng nagtrabaho at nagbigay ng serbisyo, mabigay ‘yong benefits nila (I’ll look into that, I’ll make sure everyone who worked and provided services will be given their benefits),” he added.
On Nov. 24, 2022, HCWs staged a protest in front of the DOH office in Manila to demand the release of their One Covid-19 allowance, health emergency allowance, and salary increase.
Before that, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire already said that the agency is targeting the disbursement of said payments before Christmas and that they have already requested an additional P27 billion worth of provision from DBM.
READ: Health workers demand immediate release of Covid-19 benefits
No delay in allowance
On the other hand, DBM noted in a statement released on May 23 that there was no delay in the release of benefits and allowances.
The office clarified that it has already released a total of P19.96 billion to fund the requests and from said amount, P7.39 billion was already dispensed by DOH as of March 31. — Luisa K. Cabato
READ: DBM denies delayed benefits for medical workers
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Credit belongs to : www.mb.com.ph
